St. Francisville — Mississippi River

103 Days. 2,300+ solo miles. A pen, pad, camera and the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing America by Canoe. A Mississippi River story.

In late August of 2017 I set out to complete a dream-to canoe over 2,300 miles through the heart of America on the nations largest artery, the Mississippi River. With no partner, few expectations and a yearning for adventure I packed my boat and headed north to the headwaters of the Mississippi in norther Minnesota. For the next 103 days I traversed the country by canoe, from the Northwoods of Minnesota to the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Along the way I was taken in by the kindness of strangers and stricken by the beauty of the river and the people who call the Mississippi home. These are the stories of that journey. The people and places, triumphs and tribulations. The adventure of a lifetime.

Day 92 Mississippi River

I woke up to nearby gunshots just before sunrise. A pair of duck hunters had set up within the vicinity. Despite the barking of a 12 gauge, I slept in a bit and got up on my own time.

After breakfast and breaking down the tent I packed up the boat on a muddy edge and pushed off into the river.

A sunny but cool day awaited. A slight wind from the south blew in at a 45 degree angle.

Late in the day, I noticed something moving quickly along the West Bank. It looked like a running dog. As I got closer I realized it was a full sized healthy coyote. Dark grey in color with a big bushy tail, the coyote sprinted along the edge of the water for 50 yards or so before turning up into the forest.

I passed the St. Francisville bridge around 4pm. Just down river two industrial plants held court on the rivers edge. The plant on the eastern shore omitted an unpleasant smell, similar to natural gas. As the wind blew at my back, the smell carried along.

LouisianaWill CollinsJune 4, 2019Baton Rouge, St. FrancisvilleComment